Kent's greatest slimmers say losing weight has changed their life for better
Published: 06:00, 22 March 2020
Over the years the county has been inspired by the slimming feats people have achieved to aid their health - and in some cases to help a loved one.
Here's a round up of Kent's greatest weight loss stories.
Nicola Rolfe lost 14 stone and saw all her health issues vanish
Nicola Rolfe was able to lose 14 stone in 2014, after refusing to let herself get above 30 stone on her 30th birthday.
Just 19 months later, after her 31st birthday, the Dover woman had gone from a dress size 32 to a size 10 to 12.
Miss Rolfe was suffering from a range of health issues, finding it very difficult to walk short distances or up the stairs at work. But since slimming down, all of those weight related issues have disappeared.
For her efforts she won the Slimming World's Greatest Loser competition in her weight loss group.
Knowing others would be going through what she did, she shared her advice: “I would say if you really want to loose weight, have the determination, will power and really enjoy your food, then Slimming World is the way forward.
“It’s a life-changing experience, and I will never go back to all the things I used to eat."
Ricky Ingram lost 12 stone and now has two online businesses
Ricky Ingram decided to start his weight loss journey after being called a "whale" for blocking a pub's TV while on holiday in Spain.
At this point, the Westerham resident was 18-years-old and weighed over 21 stone. Six years later, after a lifestyle of high intensity fitness and healthy eating, he weighed 12 stone.
By the time he was 20-years-old, he had qualified as a level 3 personal trainer and now runs an online personal training business called Bodies Made Online.
He has also recently started a marketing advice service for personal trainers called Online Fitness Freedom.
Mr Ingram said: “It feels like a lifetime ago. People say it just doesn’t look like me. I feel like a completely new person now and I will never go back to how I was in that part of my life.”
Sam Cadwallader lost five stone to save her husband's life
Sam Cadwallader lost five stone so she could be her husband's kidney donor after he was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) - a scarring of blood vessels in the kidneys.
The Minster woman said: "He wasn’t able to go up and down the stairs without being out of breath, he was really deteriorating. So I offered to be tested to see if I was a match for him."
The mother-of-four had to loose five stone before she was allowed to donate her kidney. This gave her the extra motivation she needed and she lost 6 pounds in her first week at Slimming World.
The 35-year-old added: "From then, I worked so hard to lose the weight each week to be able to save Paul."
Just over a week after she achieved her goal, the couple of 17 years had the operation at Guy’s Hospital, London.
She also joined the Slimming World Golden Bus as a Slimming World magazine star.
When the bus stopped in Jubilee Square, Maidstone, she told KentOnline: "I was really honoured to represent Slimming World and felt so proud to be able to share my story with people who came to visit. It completely transformed my life."
David Breaker lost 17 stone and recovered from a gaming addiction
David Breaker, from Gillingham in Medway, was 32 stone and suicidal because of his addiction to gaming - sometimes playing World of Warcraft for 14 hours a day.
Mr Breaker's GP told him if he did not lose weight now, he would be dead by 35 most likely from a violent heart attack. This shocked David him into taking action.
Through healthy eating, exercise and the help of a gastric bypass, he now weighs 14 stone, shedding more than half his weight and looks like a whole new person.
After such a successful ordeal, Mr Breaker has become a life coach specialising in lifestyle and weight loss.
Sometimes he still plays games to relax and eats snacks. His motto for dealing with his past vices is: "It's okay to have a doughnut, but don't have the whole packet."
Carl Prodrick lost 17 stone to stop his daughter being bullied
Eight years ago, Carl Prodrick from Rochester in Medway weighed 33 stone, which he shed more than half of in fear his daughter would be bullied for having a "fat dad".
The 45-year-old completely changed his lifestyle before his daughter Ruby started school.
He joined Slimming World, took part in high intensity interval training (HIIT) six days a week and got a gastric bypass, losing 17 stone.
He said: "Through what I can only say was a battle, I did it with the help of people around me. I want to show people that if I can do it, anybody can."
Jenni Saunders lost four stone after having a heart attack
Jenni Saunders, from Seasalter, was left terrified after she suffered a heart attack at 38-years-old. Too afraid to eat, she lost a lot of weight in the hospital.
She was having a bottle of wine and cheese frequently after she got home from work, along with eating loads of takeaways and processed food.
After the doctor warned her she should lose weight, she dramatically changed her diet, losing almost 4 stone.
Now she has stopped skipping breakfast, stopped dodging carbs and eats more vegetables.
She praised Slimming World for helping her lose weight, adding: “Now I have a dog who I take out for walks, I feel happier and I have better mental health. The nice thing about it is you meet loads of nice people.”
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Sophie Bird